We are the last generation with a real opportunity to save the world.

Laurence Overmire

The role of Refrigerant Recovery in New Zealand

Moving towards a safer, healthier environment is an industry-driven responsibility

The Recovery Trust (Refrigerant Recovery New Zealand) was formed in 1993 to promote and facilitate the collection, storage and safe disposal of all surplus refrigerant gases that were originally imported for refrigeration and air-conditioning applications and are now being discarded.

Our objective? To minimise and avoid any release of these ozone-depleting gases into our environment.

Recovery members represent various refrigerant industry groups within New Zealand, including food manufacturers, supermarkets, appliance manufacturers, wholesalers and importers, and the motor vehicle industry.

The Refrigerant Recovery NZ programme is funded through a wholesale levy that is placed on every kilogram of imported refrigerant and is paid by participating companies.

Through the programme, disposal of unwanted refrigerant gases is FREE for industry participants and includes the provision of secure transfer units and storage tanks.

Once collected, gases are transported to accredited collection depots in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, and then transferred to overseas destruction facilities.

Without the efforts of Refrigerant Recovery NZ to encourage industry support and compliance through effective product stewardship, harmful refrigerant gases would continue to be lost into the Earth's atmosphere.